To say that China is a land of breathtaking natural wonders is no overstatement. The country's national parks stand as some of the most magnificent and awe-inspiring destinations on earth—long celebrated, endlessly photographed, and firmly fixed on every traveler's bucket list. Jiuzhaigou National Park in Sichuan Province is, without question, among the best.

A designated UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, Jiuzhaigou is perhaps best known for its crystal-clear turquoise lakes, so remarkably transparent that the lakebed is fully visible beneath the shimmering surface. This extraordinary park also holds China's prestigious 5A-level Scenic Area designation, the country's highest tourism accolade.

May and June offer an ideal window to visit, as the weather transitions gently from spring to summer with pleasantly mild temperatures. To truly do the park justice, plan for at least two days, enough time to explore both valleys at a leisurely pace, whether on foot or by shuttle bus.

The undisputed highlight is the Five Flower Lake, the ‘Heart of Jiuzhaigou’, where the water glows in a vivid, ever-shifting palette of blue, turquoise, green, yellow and orange, its colors determined by the concentration of calcium carbonate and aquatic plants beneath the surface. The Pearl Shoal Waterfall, the largest in the park, fans out in graceful cascading tiers, with scenic walkways offering spectacular views at every turn. Mirror Lake lives up to its name with glassy, still waters that reflect the surrounding landscape in perfect clarity. It is best experienced in the tranquil early morning, when the light is soft and the surface undisturbed. Rhinoceros Lake enchants with its deep, intensely blue waters nestled within a ring of towering mountains, while Five Color Pond boasts the most pristine, transparent waters in the entire park. Finally, Long Lake, the largest and deepest of all, stretches majestically between lush, pine-forested slopes, offering some of the most sweeping views in the park.

With so many stunning vistas at every step, Jiuzhaigou has a way of enchanting visitors to forget the outside world for a while.

Getting There: Take the high-speed train from Chengdu to Huanglong Jiuzhai, a journey of approximately 1.5 hours, then connect by bus directly to Jiuzhaigou National Park.

Fly to Chengdu with Thai Airways. Click here